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Clang, clang, clang, clang.

Amid a series of metallic clashes, shuriken and kunai fell to the ground. Catherine noticed that their edges had curled. The Uchiha Clan placed tremendous importance on shuriken throwing techniques; both their power and precision were terrifying.

But Mercenary Tao was even more terrifying. He merely held his left hand casually before himself, blocking every thrown weapon. His body was astonishingly hard, as though forged from steel.

"Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique?"

"How unfortunate. You chose the Genjutsu that works worst against me."

Bai Cangshu watched the Uchiha Clan ninja, whose attempt to use the Sharingan’s Genjutsu to create a mental world and control him had instead resulted in Active Spirit eroding him. Smiling, he stepped forward.

"Tou!"

Uchiha Konoho, holding a thin steel wire in his hand, went pale. He had no idea what had happened, but Uchiha Tou, the strongest of the three, seemed to have suffered a Genjutsu backlash. He immediately flicked both hands, sending the shuriken scattered across the ground flying up again. They collided with one another, changing trajectory, while he himself leaped high into the air to readjust the steel wire’s position.

The Two-Tomoe Sharingan in Uchiha Konoho’s eyes clearly captured the movement of every shuriken. Such delicate control was something only their clan could achieve.

The shuriken danced as they shot toward every part of Bai Cangshu’s body. Still smiling, Bai Cangshu continued forward, gently swaying his head from side to side and accurately evading every attack.

Uchiha Konoho knew that his opponent was formidable. On their way here, the three of them had wiped out a Stone Ninja squad and learned that during last night’s battle, a tall ninja had annihilated the Hidden Cloud Squad. Even the Jonin Ayai had been captured in an instant.

His mind was taut with concentration. Seeing his opponent effortlessly evade the attacks and continue walking toward him, he interlocked his fingers at once. The nearly transparent steel wire suddenly tightened, and the whistling shuriken rebounded simultaneously.

Dozens of shuriken swept back in completely opposite arcs, nearly covering every direction.

Other than Kekkei Genkai ninja possessing the Sharingan or Byakugan, it was almost impossible to evade this strike.

Bai Cangshu found the Uchiha ninjas’ fighting style quite interesting. Unlike the efficient, despicable assassinations of those Kumogakure ninjas last night, the Uchiha, blessed with those eyes, had honed their combat arts to the limit. Their battles possessed a striking sense of beauty.

Bai Cangshu’s body suddenly bent sharply sideways, almost as if twisting out of shape. A shuriken trailing steel wire sliced past that spot, and the next instant, Bai Cangshu twisted sharply in the opposite direction.

Because he was moving too quickly, Mercenary Tao’s body seemed to blur for an instant in Catherine’s eyes. But in Uchiha Konoho’s eyes, the man had evaded every returning shuriken and steel wire with unimaginable precision and swift footwork. Not only had he avoided being struck, the steel wire had failed to entangle him as well.

That meant Konoho’s follow-up Fire Release could not be used in tandem.

The corners of Bai Cangshu’s lips rose. He suddenly stopped, extending both hands forward as well. His dynamic vision was excellent too. Though he could not match the Sharingan’s power, coupled with his perception, performing similar maneuvers was not difficult.

Uchiha Konoho’s eyes widened. Seeing his opponent’s movements, a suspicion rose in his heart. Could it be…

The next moment, Bai Cangshu interlocked his fingers and suddenly pulled back with force.

Twang!

The spinning shuriken abruptly changed direction. The immense force traveled through the elastic steel wire, making the shuriken seem to vanish in an instant as their trajectories shifted once more.

"This is… the Manipulated Shuriken Technique?!"

Uchiha Konoho was certain now. The man before him was actually copying his technique to attack him?!

A ninja who was not from the Uchiha Clan was copying an Uchiha ninja’s technique to deal with an Uchiha ninja!

Shock and fury surged through Uchiha Konoho. As his pupils trembled violently, a stronger ocular power faintly emerged. The spacing between the tomoe in his Two-Tomoe Sharingan began to change, but he had no mind to spare for the changes in his body.

Steel wire was still wrapped around his hands. As his eyes darted about, he swiftly tracked the shuriken that were nearly too fast for his vision to follow.

"Fire Release: Dust Cloud Concealment Technique!"

Intense heat erupted from behind him. Accompanied by thick smoke and dust, it instantly enveloped the entire forest. Then a blade flashed, and the steel wire in Uchiha Konoho’s hands snapped at once.

Thud, thud, thud…

Dozens of shuriken manipulated and reflected back by Bai Cangshu scattered through the smoke, embedding themselves in trees and earth.

A hand seized Uchiha Konoho by the neck and instantly pulled him back.

Bang!

The next moment, a figure seemed to smash through the air as it appeared where Konoho had just been standing.

Uchiha Konoho was still young, and he was deeply indignant that someone would "provoke" the Uchiha in such a manner. But Uchiha Tou was experienced. From that single failed Genjutsu alone, he knew how troublesome the man before them was.

He immediately used a Fire Release that could both burn and obscure vision, then pulled Konoho away.

"You and Asai pressure him from the rear. Once I widen the distance between us in battle, immediately kill those two women and retreat!"

The instant Uchiha Tou finished speaking, he appeared behind Bai Cangshu with the Body Flicker Jutsu and slashed at Bai Cangshu’s neck.

Bai Cangshu seemed to be taking a leisurely stroll as he turned aside and dodged the sword.

Uchiha Tou drew a deep breath. The gleam of his blade vanished in an instant, and the next moment, a Fire Dragon burst from his mouth.

Bai Cangshu raised his left hand before himself. When the Fire Dragon struck that arm, it could produce no effect at all. The flames seemed to be absorbed, beginning to vanish before reaching his arm.

At the same time, black shadows began to flow across Bai Cangshu’s body. He activated Yin Spirit Possession to guard against the advanced Sharingan Genjutsu the Uchiha Clan might use.

Unfortunately, Satoru Gojo was not the sort of agreeable gentleman who came at a call and left at a wave. This time, he ignored Bai Cangshu completely, allowing a Yin Spirit to be drawn onto the Throne of the Heart.

"Is this all the Uchiha Clan’s power amounts to?"

Bai Cangshu’s ears twitched, clearly catching the movements of the other two ninjas. At the same time, the interest on his face began to fade.

He had entangled himself with these people because he enjoyed the Uchiha Clan’s intricate combat. He had hoped to see a master of battle like Uchiha Madara, not this sort of person who would stop at nothing for a mission.

A chill suddenly ran through Uchiha Tou’s heart. The next moment, he retreated instantly. His mind still throbbed faintly, and the backlash from using Genjutsu just now had left him wary.

He had no idea what strange method the man before him possessed, so for the moment, he did not dare use Genjutsu.

With Taijutsu offering no advantage either, his hands rapidly formed seals.

Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!

Intense heat erupted from his mouth. His chest swelled as he guided it with his hands, exhaling the terrifying flames.

"Slow. Too slow."

A voice sounded beside his ear. Uchiha Tou’s heart sank, and then a sky full of fists appeared before his eyes.

Shun Goku Satsu